US1772548A - Haulage system for mines - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 12; 1930. N. D. LEVIN ,5 HAULAGE SYSTEM FOR MINES Original Filed May 1 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H Irwervtoi Aug. 12, 19 30. N. D. LEVIN HAULAGE SYSTEM FOR MINES Original Filed May 1 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 12, 1930 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NHIS D. LEVIN, OI COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE JEFFREY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 01' COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION 01 OHIO nuna'en sxs'rm Ion unms Application fled Kay 14, 1925, Serial No. 30,287. Renewed November 8, 1929.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in haulage systems for mines, and particularly to systems adapted to use in coal mines for hauling the broken down coal from the mine, and comprising locomotives having propelling motors supplied with energy from a stationary source of supply through suitably disposed conductors connectable with said motors while they travel along the passages of the mine.

The invention will be shown in connection with an electric locomotive supplied with power from an external source, but it will be understood that vehicles and power devices, other than the locomotive here shown, may be used, nor do I confine the invention to one in which electrical power only is contemplated, it being obvious that it may be adapted to a variety of vehicles and devices, and to power other than electrical power.

Heretofore the locomotives available for use in coal mines, and similar installations, have been propelled by electric motors deriving their actuating current through the well known trolley wire and.cooperating traveling contacts. I

In some coal mines the mining operation occasionally releases pockets of gas confined in the body of the coal vein, and the prevalence of such gas pockets presents a con-' stant danger of explosion. Electrical devices adapted to use in such mines are, therefore, enclosed in gas tight casings designed to prevent the ignition of the gas charged atmosphere of the'mine by electric arcs occurring within said devices. Usually the-currents of air flowing through the entries of a mine effectively prevent the accumulation therein of gas in sufiicient quantities to render the atmosphere explosive, and naked trolley wheels cooperating with bare trolley wires of the usual type can be safely used to supply current for the locomotive by which coal is hauled along these entries.

In the rooms of such a mine, however, where the principal mining operations are performed, greater precautions are required, and flexible insulated electric conductor cables, temporarily connected with the trolley wires in the entries, supply current to mining machines of approved construction operating in the mine rooms. Relatively small locomotives having protected electric motors and controlling devices, provided with automatically acting winding reels upon which may be wound sufiicient lengths of cable, usually from three to six hundred feet, are used to enter the mine rooms and gather cars of coal therefrom. In some mines, however, the danger of explosion is so great that fully set forth in the following specification,

and illustrated in the. accompanying draw- I ing, of which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a locomotive associated with the devices of my invention.

Fig 2 is an end elevation of the locomotive illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken alongsubstantially the line III-III of Fig. 2.

F i 4 is a sectional view taken along sub.-

i stantially the line IVIV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a mine entry showing the arrangement of tracks and conductor cables involved in my present invention Like numerals refer to similar parts in the several figures.

In the drawings I have shown the preferred embodiment of myinvention wherein the numeral 1 refers to an electric locomotive adapted-to travel alon the rails 2 of a mine track. It is to be un erstood that the locomotive shown is simpl illustrative of Locomotives of the type above referred to i are commonly provided'with trolley de ices adapted to contact with the naked-trolley wire to supply electric current for the actuation of t e locomotive. The tendency of the trolley wheel to draw arcs from the trolley wire has rendered the use of such electric locomotives in gaseous mines prohibitive, and to overcome this difiiculty I have piovided the devices to be hereinafter descri d jacent the mine track I have provided a support, its present form being a trough 3 composed of suitable insulating material, such as wood, or the like, which is supported upon suitable brackets, such as the brackets 4. Upon the underside of the trough 3 I have supported suitable conductor cables 5 and 6 which are connected with a source of electric supply and which constitute the feeders by which power, in the present showing, electrical power, is supplied to the devices here inafter described. At suitable intervals along the cables 5 and 6 are connected branch power conductors, the present disclosure showin electrical cables 7 adapted to lie on the insulating trou h 3 and of a length substantially equal to alt the distance between adjacent cable connecting points'... At the free end of each of these branch cables 7 is provided a pair of terminal plugs 8 having protecting insulating shields 9 of the type which is well understood in the art,

adapted to prevent their accidental electrical connection with each other or with other com ductors.

Mounted upon the locomotive 1 and adapted to rotation about a vertical axis, is an automatic cable take-up and pay-out device or reel comprising, in this disclosure, a winding drum 1O fixed to a vertical shaft 11 supported in suitable hearings on the locomotive frame and connected with suitable power devices by which the drum 10 may becaused to rotate in a manner well understood in the art. Mounted within the body of the drum 10 is a terminal box 12 having two terminals 13 and 14 which are adapted to engage the terminal plugs 8 of the cable 7, an opening (see Figs. 3 and 4) being provided in a wall of the reel to permit the plugs to be coupled to the terminals. The terminals 13 and 14 are connected through suitable conductor cables 15 and 16 with the collector rings 17 and 18 supported by suitable insulating devices 19 upon the underside of the drum 10. The collector rings 17 and 18 are engaged by suitable contact brushes-20 and 21 which are connected with the wiring circuits (not shown) of the locomotive in the manner which is well understood in the art, and by which power is delivered to the locomotive. Included in the circuit of the conductor 15 is a circuit breaking switch, which may be of any suitable type, and is here disclosed as comprising the hinged switch blade 22 and contact 23, and means such as spring 24, connected with the blade 22, tends normally to hold the blade 22 out of contact with the contact member 23. The switch 22 is connected in any suitable manner, as, for example, by the coupling link 25, with a lever 26, here shown as pivotally mounted within the reel drum 10, said lever 26 having a poring in the wall of the reel drum 10, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the lever 26 is in the full line position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, due to external pressure exerted by the coils of. the conductor 7, the switch 22 will be maintained in a closed position, but immediately on release of cable pressure on lever 26, thespring 24 will pull the switch, and the arts will be thrown to the position shown in dotted lines in Figs. 3 and 4, with the circuit broken.

The switch mechanism, it will be observed, is enclosed in the gas tight casing 27, so that there will be no danger of gas coming to the switch points and being exploded by arcing.

In the operation of the apparatus above described, the plugs 8 of one of the branch cables 7 will be attached to the terminals 13 and 140i the winding drum and a sufficient number of turns of said cable wrapped upon said drum to force the switch blade 22 into closed circuit position. flow through the conductor 7 to actuate the motors of the locomotive, and the power devices thus actuated will cause the rotation of the winding drum 10 to take u the slack of the branch cable 7 and to win said cable as the locomotive moves towards the point of power supply at which the branch cable 7 connects with the feeder cables 5 and 6. As the locomotive moves past said connecting point, the slippage of the power devices by which the winding drum is rotated will permit the unwinding of the branch cable 7, and guide rollers 28 attached to the arm 29 are arranged to lead the cable 7 onto and oil the winding drum l0 and lay said cable in the trough 3 where it is protected against acci dental injury.

It will be observed from Fig. 2, that the support or trough 3 is positioned on its track 4 so as tolie substantially at the level of the top of the locomotive. By this disposition of the parts, the cable 7 will be laid off in the trough very readily, and with a minimum amount of slack between the paying out point and the point of de osit in the trough 3.

When the locomo ive arrives at the end of the branch cable 7, the unwindin of the cable from the drum 10 releases the ever 26 and permits the opening of the switch 22, intcr- Current may thention 26' adapted to extend through an open- Extending along the entries of a mine adrupting the flow of current through the 7 branch cable 7. The lever 26 may be disposed,

vertically of the drum 10 in the position v calculated to cut off power at the proper time. 1 .39

the lever 26 willbesodis osedastobereeasedbythe uncoiling of of the complete uncoiling'of the cable from the drum, so that when power is cut off, the

operator Wlll be forewarned, and can bring the locomotive to a stop before complete unreeling of the cable, and pulling strain upon the terminals and plugs, which would result when the cable is completely paid out if the locomotive continued its travel. The terminal lugs 8 may then be removed from the dead terminals 13 and 14 without the formation of electric arcs, and the plugs upon the end of the next adjacent branch cable 7 may be inserted in their place, thus permitting the locomotive to travel alon the next stage of its 'ourney, each stage oing substantially dou lo the length of the branch cable 7.

It will be seen that with the branch cables 7 arranged as shown in Fig. 5, when the terminals 8 are plugged into the terminal box, and power is thrown on to the locomotive, the

- automatic reel will wind up the cable 7 until the point of connection of the branch cable 7 with the feeders 5 and 6 is passed, whereupon the reel will be '11 to pay out the cable in the manner above escribed. By this arrangement, I am enabled to cover a length of travel of the locomotive substantially twice the length of the branch cable,

It will be obvious that so long as any of the coils of branch cable 7 remain upon the winding drum, such branch cable will be under sufiicient tension to prevent the terminal plugs 8 from being withdrawn, and until the lever 26 is released, and the switch 22 is automatically opened,such plu s 8 cannot be withdrawn, and it is impossi le for arcs to form at the terminals 13 and 14.

The tension upon the branch cable 7 due to the torque ofthe Windin drum 10 will prevent the withdrawal of t e terminal plugs 8 before the release of the lever 26, and the automatic 0 ening of the switch 22 before the cable is ully unwound from the drum 10 renders impossible the formation of arcs at the terminals 13 and 14. By the use of the devices above described electric locomotives adapted to the haulage of cars of coal from the mines, and other vehicles and devices,

may be safely employed in mines having explosive atmospheres wherein such ap aratus.

as heretofore been prohibited, or un er any conditions where the formation of sparks from arcing is dangerous.

It is to be understood that the devices above described may be subject to wide variation without departure from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is, Y

1. In a s stem-of mine haulage, the combination w1th a wheel supported carria e having a motor arran to actuate t e wheels to propel the carnage, of a conductor t e cable 7 somewhat in advance connected with a source of energy supply,

means to detachably connect said supply conductor with said motor to transmit energy thereto while said carriage is traveling, and automatically acting means to cut off the supply of energy om said motor before sai conductor is disconnected therefrom.

2. In a system of mine haulage, the combination with a wheel su ported carriage having a motor arrange to actuate the wheels to pro 1 the carriage, of a flexible conductor connected with a stationary source of energ supply and detachably connected with sai motor to transmit energy thereto while said carriagefis travelin and automatically acting means to cut 0 the supply of energy from said motor before said conductor is disconnected therefrom.

3. In a system of mine haulage, the combination w1th a wheel supported carriage having a motor arranged to actuate the wheels to propel the carriage, of a flexible conductor connected with a stationary source of ener supply and detachably connected with said motor to transmit energy thereto while said carriage is traveling, automatically actin means upon the carriage to'take up and ho d the excess length of said conductor, and automatically acting means as sociated with said takeup means to cut off the supply of energy from said motor before said conductor is disconnected therefrom.

4. In a system of mine haulage, the combination with a wheel supported carria e having a motor arranged to actuate t e wheels to propel the carriage, of a flexible conductor connected with a stationary source of energy supply and detachably connected with said motor to transmit energy thereto while said carriage is traveling, and automatically acting device upon the carriage ada ted to windand unwind said flexible con uctor as said carriage moves relative thereto, and automatically acting means to cut oif the supply of ener y from said motor when a predetermine portion of said flexible conductor has been unwound from said winding device.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination'with a stationary source of energy supply and a motor movable relative thereto, of a flexible conductor connected with said source of energy supply and with said motor and adapted to transmit energy to said motor, a winding device in fixed relation to said motor adapted to wind and unwind said flexible conductor as said motor energy sup ly, of a motor movable relative thereto, a exible conductor connected with said source of energy supply and with said motor and adapted to transmit energy to said motor, a winding device in fixed rela conductor disengages said member as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a stationary source of energy supply, of a motor movable relative thereto, a flexible conductor connected with said source of energy supply and with said motor and adapted to transmit energy to said motor, a winding device in fixed relationwith said motor adapted to wind and unwind said flexible conductor as said motor moves rela tive thereto, a switch connected in series with said conductor and having a member adaptcd to engage the turns of said conductor on said winding device to hold said switch in closed circuit position, and a spring c011- nected with said switch to move it to open circuit position when said conductor disengages said member as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a system of mine haulage, the combination with a locomotive, of electric power devices mounted thereon, a conductor cable connected with a source of electric supply,

means to detachably connect said conductor cable with said power devices while the locomotive is traveling, and automatically acting means to interrupt the flow of electric current through said cable before it may be disconnected from said power devices.

9. In a system of mine haulage, the combination with a locomotive, of electric power devices mounted thereon, a flexible conductor cable connected with a stationary source of electric supply and detachably connected with said power devices to transmit energy thereto while said locomotive is traveling, and automatically acting means to interrupt the flow of electric current through said conductor-cable before it may be disconnected from said power devices.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a stationary source of energy supply and a motor movable relative thereto, of a flexible conductor connected with said source of energy supply and with said motor and adapted to transmit energy to said motor, a winding device in fixed relation to said motor adapted to wind and unwind said flexible conductor as said motor moves relative thereto, and automatically acting means associated with said winding device and movable in a predetermined path relative to said winding device and adapted to stop said motor when a predetermined portion of said conductor is unwound from said winding device.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, movable power transmitting means connecting said locomotive and said source of power, and power controlling meansmovable in a fixed path and actuated by said power transmitting means and operable automatically to cut of! transmission of ower after a predetermined movement 0 said power transmitting means.

12. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, movable power transmitting means normally delivering power to said locomotive from said source, and power controlling means movable in a fixed path and actuated by said power transmitting means and operable automatically to cut oil transmission of power after a predetermined movement of .said power transmitting means.

13. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, movable power transmitting means to deliver power to said locomotive from said source, power controlling means movable in a fixed path and actuated by said power transmitting means and normally maintain ing said power transmitting means active, and means automatically operable to actuate said controlling means after a predetermined movement of said power transmitting means and render said power transmitting means inactive. I

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination 015 a locomotive, a source of power, movable power transmitting means to deliver power to said locomotive from said source, self acting power controlling means movable in a fixed path and actuated by said power transmitting means and normally maintaining said power transmitting means active, and means automatically operable to release said self acting power controlling means after a predetermined movement of said power transmitting means and render said power transmitting means inactive.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, movable power transmitting means to deliver power to said locomotive from said source, spring actuated power controlling means actuated by said power transmitting means and normally maintaining said power transmitting means active, and means automatically to release said spring actuated controlling means after a predetermined movement of said power transmitting means and render said power transmitting means inactive.

, automatically 16. In apparatus of the class described the combination of a locomotive, a source 0 power, a power transmitting conductor to deliver power to said locomotive from-said source,'a take-up and pay-out device for said conductor, and power controllin means movable in a fixed path and automatically responsive upon movementof said take-up and pay-out device to cut ofi transmission of power after a predetermined length of travel of said locomotive.

17. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a power transmitting conductor to deliver power to said locomotive from said source, a'take-up and pay-out devicefor said conductor carried by saidlocomotive, and power controlling means -movable in a fixed path and automatically responsive upon movement of said take-up and pay-out device to cut off transmission of power after a predetermined length of travel of said locomotive.

18. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a take-up and pay-out device for said flexible conductor carriedby said locomotive, and (power ,controlllng means movable in a fixe ath-and responsive to movement of said exible conductor automatically to cut ofi transmission of power after a predetermined'length of travel of said locomotive.

19. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and saidsource of power, a take-up and pay-out device for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, and self acting power controlling means movable in a fixed ath and responsive to movement of said exible conductor to cut oil transmission of power after a predetermined length of travel of said locomotive. I

20. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power'transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of ower, a take-up and pay-out device for sai flexible conductor carried'by said locomotive, and spring actuated power controlling means responsive to movement of said flexible conductor automatically to cut' of]? transmission ofpower after a predetermined length of travel of said locomotive.

21. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power a take-up and pay-out device for said flexib motive, power controlling means normally le conductor carried by said loco-- maintaining said conductor in power transmitting condition, and means movable in a fixed path and under the control of said conductor to effect movement of said power con trolling means and cut off transmission of power after a predetermined length of travel of said locomotive. I p 22. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a take-up and pay-out device for said flexible conductor earned by said locomotive, and self acting power controlling means normally maintaining said conductor in power-transmitting condition, and releasing means movable in a fixed path and under the control of said conductor to permit said self-acting controlling means to cut on transmission of power in said conductor after-a predetermined length of travel of said locomotive.

i 23. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a take-up and pay-out device for said flexible. conductor carried by said locomotive, spring actuated power controlling means normally maintaining said conductor in power transmitting condition, and releasing means under the control of said conductor to permit said spring actuated means to cut off transmission of power in said conduc tor after a predetermined length of travel of said locomotive.

24. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting con ductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, atake-up and pay-out device for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, a power controlling device on said take-up and pay-out device and being movable in a fixed path, and means responsive to movement of said flexible conductor automatically to actuate said power controlling device in one direction.

25. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a take-up and pay-out device for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, a power controlling device on said take-up and pay-out device, and means movable in a fixed ath and responsive to movement of said exible conductor automaticallyto actuate said power controlling device to permit transmission of power through said conductor.

26. In apparatus of the class described, the

combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomot1ve and said source of power, a take-up and pay-out device for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, a power controlling device on said take-up and pay-out device, means rcsponsive to movement of said flexible conductor automatically to actuate said power controlling device in one direction, and independent means to move said actuating means in a diiierent direction.

27. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a take-up and pa -out device for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, a power controlling device on said take-up and pay-out device, means responsive to movement of said flexible conductor to actuate said power controlling de vice to permit transmission of power through said conductor, and independent means to move said actuating means and cut ofi transmission of power through said conductor.

28. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a take-up and pay-out device for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, a power controlling device on said take-up and pay-out device, means responsive to movement of said flexible conductor to actuate said power controlling device to permit transmission of power through said conductor, and independent means automatically to move said actuating means and cut off transmission of power through said conductor.

29. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a takeup and pay-out device for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, a power controlling device on said take-up and pay-out device, means actuated positively by said flexible conductor to move said power controllingdevice to permit transmission of power through said conductor, and self acting means automatically to move said actuating means and cut ofi transmission of power through said conductor.

30. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power,a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a take-up and pay-out device for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, a power-controlling device on said take-up and pa -out device, means actuated positively by said flexible conductor to move said power controlling device to permit transmission of power through said conductor, and spring actuated means automatically to move said actuating means and cut oil transmission of power through said conductor.

31. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive with said source of power, a conductor reel carried by said locomotive, and a movable power controlling device on said reel and responsive to coiling and uncoiling movements of said flexible conductor on said reel.

32. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive with said source of power, a conductor reel carried by said locomotive, and a power controlling device movable in a fixed path and actuated positively by the coils of said flexible conductor on said reel to permit transmission of power through said conductor.

'33. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive with said source of power, a conductor reel carried by said locomotive, a power controlling device actuated positively by the coils of said flexible conductor on said reel to permit transmission of wer through said conductor, and indepen ent means to actuate said power controlling device and cut oil transmission of power when the flexible conductor coils are removed from said reel.

34. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmittin conuctor connecting said locomotive wit said source of power, a conductor reel carried by said locomotive, a power controlling device actuated positively .by the coils of said flexible conductor on said reel to ermit transmission of power through said conductor, and independent means automatically to actuate said power controlling device and cut oil transmission of power when the flexible conductor coils are removed from said reel.

35. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conuctor connecting said locomotive with said source of power, a conductor reel carried ductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a reel for said flexlble conductor carried by said locomotive, a power controlling device carried by said reel, and means projecting beyond the coiling surface of said reel and responsive to the coils of said flexible conductor on said reel to actuate said power controlling device.

37. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a reel for said flexible conductor carried by saidlocomotive, a wer controlling device carried by said ree and means projectingbeyond the coiling surface of said reel and responsive to the coils of said flexible conductor on said reel to actuate said power controlling device in one direction.

38. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a reel for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, a power controlling device carried by said reel, means projecting'beyond the coiling surface of said reel and responsive to the coils of said flexible conductor on said reel to actuate said power controlling device in one direction and permit transmission of power through said flexible conductor, and independent means to actuate said power controlling device in a different direction.

39. In apparatusof the class described, the

combination of a locomotive, a source of power, a flexible power transmitting conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a reel for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, a power controlling device carried by said reel, means pro- 'jecting beyond the coiling surface of said reel and responsive to the coils of said flexible conductor on said reel to actuate said power controlling device to permit transmission of power through said flexible conductor, and means to move said power controlling device to cut off power when said flexible conductor is uncoiled from said reel.

40. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an electric locomotive, a source of electric power, a flexible conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a reel for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, a switch carried by said reel, and switch operating means projecting beyond the coiling surface of said reel to actuate said switch.

41. In apparatus of the class described, thecombination of an electric locomotive, a source of electric power, a flexible conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a reel for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, a switch carried by said reel, and switch operating means proj ecting beyond 7 the ceiling surface of said reel to close said switch.

42. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an electric locomotive, a source of electric power, a flexible conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power,

a reel for said flexible conductor carried by saidflocomotive, a switch carried by said reel, switch operating means projecting eyond the coiling surface of said reel to close said switch,

and independent means to open said switch.

43. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an electric locomotive, a source of electric power, a flexible conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a reel for said flexible conductor carried. by said locomotive, a switch carried by said reel, switch operating means projecting beyond the coiling surface of said reel to close said switch, and independent self acting means to open said switch when said conductor is uncoiled from said reel.

44. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an electric locomotive, a source of electric power, a flexible conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a reel for said flexible conductor carried by said locomotive, a switch carried by said reel, switch operating means projecting beyond the coiling surface of said reel to close said switch, and spring acting means automatically to open said switch when said conductor is uncoiled from said reel.

45. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an electric locomotive, a source of electric power, a flexible power conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a reel for said conductor carried by said 'locomotive, a detachable coupling for said conductor carried by said reel, a power controlling switch carried by said reel, and a switch operating device carried by and projecting beyond the coiling surface of said reel to close said switch when said flexible conductor is wound upon said reel;

46. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an electric locomotive, a source of electric power, a flexible power conductor connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a reel for said conductor carried by said locomotive, a detachable coupling for said conductor carried by said reel, a-power controlling switch carried by said reel, a switch operating device carried by and projecting beyond the coiling surface of h I pling for said conductor carried by said reel, a power controlling switch carried '0 said reel, a switch operating device carried and projecting beyond the coiling surface said reel to close said switch when said flexible conductor is wound upon said reel, and independent self-acting means automatically to open said switch when said conductor is unwound from said reel.

48. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of an electric locomotive, a source of electric power, a flexible power conductor connecting said locomotive andsaid source of power, a reel for said conductor car- I ried by said locomotive, a detachable coupling for said conductor carried by said reel, a power controlling switch carried by said reel, a switch operating device carried by and projecting beyond the coiling surface of said reel to close said switch when said flexible conductor is wound upon said reel, and independent spring actuated means automatically to open said switch when said conductor is unwound from said reel.

25 49. In an apparatus of the class described the combination of a locomotive, a source 0 power, movable electrical conductors connecting said locomotive and said source of power, a gas-tight chamber mounted on the w locomotive, and electric circuit making means mounted on said gas-tight chamber and being operable automatically to cut oflf transmission of current to said locomotive after a predetermined movement of said electrical conductors.

50. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an electric locomotive, a source of electrical energy, movable electrical conductors to deliver power'to said locomo- 4o tive from said source, a gas-tight chamber mounted on said locomotive, electrical circuit making and breaking means enclosed in said chamber and actuated by said electric conductors and normally maintaining said electrical conductors active, and means automatically to actuate said circuit making and breaking means after a predetermined movement of said electrical conductors to retain the latter inactive.

o 51. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of an electric locomotive, a source of electrical energy, an electrical conductor to deliver power to said locomotive from said source, a take-up and pay-out device, a gas-tight chamber mounted on said take-up and pay-out device, an electrical circuit making and breaking means mounted in said chamber and automatically responsive upon movement of said take-up and pay-out on device to cut off transmission of power after a predetermined length of 'travel of said locomotive.

' In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. NILS D. LEVIN.

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